General Assembly of the United Nations

President of the 75th session

Select Page

48th Plenary of the General Assembly: Reports of the Fifth Committee (Opening)

Statement by H.E. Volkan Bozkir, President of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly

48th Plenary of the General Assembly: Reports of the Fifth Committee

31 December 2020

(As delivered)

 

His Excellency, Ambassdor Carlos Amorin Tenconi, Permanent Representative of Uruguay and Chair of the Fifth Committee,

Members of the Bureau of the Fifth Committee,

Excellencies,

Distinguished delegates,

 

At the opening meeting of the Fifth Committee, I stated that all roads lead to the Fifth Committee.

Today, I am pleased to note that we are nearing our destination. Today is a historic and unprecedented day, because the General Assembly will be adopting the UN general budget on the very last day of the preceding year. I should like to emphasize that we did not come to that point easily and, given the difficulties we have experienced in the last days I felt the need to express my concern and disappointment in a written statement as well two days ago. I am pleased that the remaining differences were solved and the Fifth Committee finished its work last night, adopting the resolution on the UN budget for 2021.  

I thank Ambassador Amorin and his team, and all members of the Bureau, for their stewardship, at a critical time in the history of the United Nations. I welcome the flexibility and spirit of compromise, shown by all delegates, to ensure that the main session concludes on time.

I have closely followed the deliberations, and I can attest to the fact that, it is your work ethic and determination, as demonstrated in countless late night negotiations, that allow our Organization to carry out its functions, and deliver its mandate as assigned by Member States.

As we contend with the COVID-19 pandemic, your efforts are more important than ever before, and demonstrate that, agreement and consensus are integral, to all multilateral undertakings. You are the innovators of the UN, being the first Main Committee, championing hybrid diplomacy, by meeting both in-person and remotely.

In the 75th year of the United Nations, you have fulfilled the vision of the founders of our Organization. At a time of crisis, diplomats of the world came together, in order to meet the needs of the people we serve.

 

Excellencies,

Distinguished delegates,

The United Nations, has played a vital role, in mitigating and addressing the COVID-19 pandemic globally. To continue fulfilling this key role, the United Nations requires a strong budget, and the allocation of important resources.

The global landscape, has drastically changed, but much work remains to be done, in this ‘decade of recovery’, to ensure that, we all build back better; implement the Sustainable Development Goals; facilitate the UN to fulfil its mandate; and safeguard humanity through “vaccines for all”.

The Secretary-General has expressed concern, about the financial situation of the United Nations on several occasions, and this has been echoed throughout the main session. Those who have briefed the Fifth Committee, on behalf of the Secretariat, have presented stark projections, regarding the impact of the current liquidity crisis.

The fact is, we cannot create the ‘future we want’, without ‘the UN we need’.

It is the collective responsibility of the Membership, to provide the United Nations, with the adequate funding, to enable the Organisation, to fulfil the activities mandated by Member States. To this end, I once again call on all Member States, to fulfil their commitments and obligations, in line with the budget and the scale of assessment.

I assure you that, you can count on my full support, and that of my office, throughout your work.

I thank you.